the Flash is back

Eeeeek!  I can't believe it's been a whole month since I've posted.  Time flies. Be assured, I have not stopped sewing, designing or buying fabric - I just haven't had the time to blog about it all.
Anyway, I have some feasts for the eye today.


I've been working on several bags at once, to fulfil orders (which must be obeyed at all times!)
DL - your bag is almost finished, here it is sans handles. I love the contrasting stitching on the navy faux leather.

And my dear cousin (you know who you are) your Navy Rose bag is well under way and looking good if I do say so myself.

And now for the French bit

I've constructed a little tableaux of gorgeous French & French-inspired objects.  My husband bought the scarf for me in France recently when visiting Chateau Chenonceau and it just happens to be red and black, perfect for wearing to the football (go Bombers!)
Enjoy..

I couldn't resist including one of my favourite books about (what else?) but handbags - vintage this time

Some of these buttons I did indeed buy in Montmartre on my last trip, aren't they divine? I'm dying to use them on a bag. The cheesy little glass La Tour Eiffel was bought at the base of the iron lady from some cheerful Jamaican gentlemen. And the little purse on the left I bought in Paris in 2008 which holds my make-up, and it always reminds of the nice man who sold it to me along with several others for presents.  He was so endearing and such a good salesman because he was passionate about his shop and the things in it.  Oh to be that enthusiastic about life when I'm pushing 70!  Vive la France I say!


au revoir

New bag - with a French flavour

I bought some gorgeous fabric on the web and wanted to do it justice.  Since it's unanimous that everyone loves this design (not mine) I have made the fabric up to that pattern. However, the handles are 100 percent my own design, so I can take credit for them.  The handles are faux leather and are hand stitched onto the bag using a contrasting red cotton against the black and I'm really pleased how it turned out. 
What do you think?

Handmade handles - close-up

and continuing on with the French theme...

These are my stripey socks I bought in a French supermarket in November 2008 - and they are still going strong!  They are unbelievably hardy, haven't shrunk in the wash and I wear them to death in the colder months. Can anyone else lay claim to such socky longevity?  I'd like to hear from you if you have.

a bientot!

What-cheeses-me-off Wednesday

Yes it's hump day again, and appropriately, I'm getting the 'ump:


1. Apparently our office is the last in line to be visited by the lunch van.  I didn't know this and have been resigned to having only 4 things to choose from every day, all crappy. That's because every office on the old lunch van trail before us gets the good stuff.  Not happy, Jan!

2. Socks that after one wash shrink and go all tight around the lower extremeties threatening to cut off your blood circulation.

3. My hairdresser of 23 years who has decided to abandon my hair and seek greener pastures in Queensland, where she intends to grow garlic.  What am I going to do?

4. People who sniff and don't have the wits to use a hanky.

5. People who speak loudly and have loooooong conversations on their mobile phones on trams/trains, making it impossible to read a book and keep your train of thought. We are not fascinated by your banal conversations - get over yourself.

6. People who have had a humour bypass and look at you blankly when you throw them your wittiest joke of the day.

7.  Spiders.  Small, large, black and/or hairy.  Get out of my house!

8. Shops that announce their opening hours and then don't open on time.  A fact you only discover AFTER you have filled the parking meter with coins.

9. People who send you terribly nice emails pointing out that word capitalisation is apparently email-speak for YELLING and even BULLYING.  Apparently no-one has told them that once-upon-a-time capitalisation was used for, um, capitalisation. This meant that you were em-pha-siz-ing something.  Who decided it meant yelling, I'd like to meet them really I would.  Was there a vote? If so, I missed it. 

10. I didn't think I'd get to 10, but hey, piece of cake!

And speaking of cake, my daughter in France sent me a lovely pic of what those lucky Frenchies get to eat.

That's all folks!

Inspirational Wednesday

...as opposed to what-cheese-me-off-Wednesday.  Let's alternate, shall we?  One week to let off steam, one week to get over yourself and think of lovely and inspirational things.

I've just joined Pininterest and hey, I'm still learning how to 'Pin' things I like.  Apparently it's easy, but we'll see.

Anyway, here is one thing I found when I had a present for my friend who has just had a baby and decided to get it gift-wrapped from Wen & Ware in Ballarat (they have a store in Malvern, Vic too).  I must confess I sometimes just buy something from their store because their wrapping skills are to die for.  Nothing fancy, just simple elements put together with great style, whether the gift is small or large.




Sweet